Portugal’s parliament has voted to extend the residency period required for citizenship to 10 years for most applicants and 7 years for citizens of EU and CPLP states. The reform also resets when the clock starts: eligibility will be counted from the date your first residence permit is issued rather than from when you file your residence application. Pending citizenship files stay under the old rules, but residents who haven’t yet applied for citizenship won’t be grandfathered. The text now goes to the President, who can promulgate it, send it back to Parliament, or refer it to the Constitutional Court.

Citizenship Network has compiled the key changes, timelines, and immediate actions residents and investors should consider.

Key takeaways

• Residency-to-citizenship timeline:

  • 10 years for most foreign nationals

  • 7 years for EU and CPLP nationals (Community of Portuguese Language Countries) 

• When the clock starts: from issuance of the first residence card, not the application date. This can add potentially 2–3 years to real-world timelines in backlogged categories. 

• Status of pending cases: citizenship applications already filed remain protected under the previous framework; those who haven’t yet applied won’t benefit from any safeguard once the new law is published. 

• Process not final yet: the approved bill proceeds to presidential review and could be sent to the Constitutional Court before entry into force. 

What changed in Portugal’s nationality law

1) Longer residence period before naturalization

Portugal is shifting from a 5-year baseline to 10 years for most applicants, and 7 years for citizens of EU/CPLP states. Multiple legal and industry briefings confirm the 7-year exception applies to both EU and CPLP nationals. 

Context: this tightening follows a 2025 policy pivot signaled earlier in the year by the government and widely reported by major outlets. 

2) The “start date” moves to the residence card issuance

Previously, many residents counted time from the application for a residence permit. Under the reform, counting will begin from the issuance date of the first residence card. For categories with slow biometrics or card issuance, practitioners warn this can extend true eligibility by 2–3 years compared with expectations under the old rule. 

3) More structured integration requirements

Alongside the A2 Portuguese language requirement, the reform introduces a basic cultural/civic knowledge assessment to standardize integration criteria. Details will be set by regulation after publication.

Who is most affected

• Non-EU, non-CPLP residents (D7, Digital Nomad, work visas, family reunification, etc.): your citizenship waiting period moves to 10 years from card issuance. 

• EU and CPLP nationals (e.g., Brazil, Angola, Cape Verde, Mozambique, São Tomé & Príncipe, Timor-Leste, Guinea-Bissau): you will face a 7-year requirement from card issuance. 

• Golden Visa investors: your path remains available but will follow the 7/10-year horizons above, with time counted from card issuance, not application. 

Practical timelines: examples

• Example A: D7 applicant (non-EU/CPLP)

  • Residence application filed: March 2026

  • First card issued: March 2027

  • Citizenship earliest filing: March 2037 (10 years from card issuance)

    Backlog between filing and the first card can push the real-world schedule out by many months. In some categories, experts caution this shift may effectively add 2–3 years compared with expectations under the old counting rule. 

• Example B: Brazilian citizen (CPLP)

  • Card issued: September 2026

  • Citizenship earliest filing: September 2033 (7 years) 

What happens to cases already in the pipeline

• Citizenship files already submitted: processed under the old law (5-year clock and prior counting rules). 

• Residents who have not yet filed for citizenship: no grandfathering once the reform is published; the new 7/10-year thresholds and “from card issuance” counting will apply. 

Is this final? Legislative path from here

The parliamentary vote is a major step, but not the last one. The President may promulgate, return the bill for revision, or refer it to the Constitutional Court. Several analyses expect at least some form of presidential scrutiny before publication. Until promulgation and publication in the Diário da República, the reform is not in force. 

For background on the political trajectory toward tighter rules, see broader reporting earlier this year. 

What this means for investors and families in 2025–2026

• Plan for longer horizons: adjust personal, tax, and education planning to a 7/10-year track. 

• Expect front-loaded documentation standards: anticipate clearer checks on language and civic knowledge once regulations publish. 

• Permanent residency remains an option: many applicants may pursue PR as an interim milestone while targeting citizenship later. 

FAQs

Does this affect people who already applied for citizenship?

No. Pending citizenship applications remain protected and continue under the previous regime. 

Are EU citizens really included in the 7-year group?

Yes. Multiple specialist briefings specify EU and CPLP nationals qualify at 7 years, while others are at 10. 

When will the new rules start applying?

After presidential promulgation and publication. Until then, no change is in force. The President may also seek Constitutional Court review. 

Why do some practitioners warn of a 2–3 year longer wait?

Because counting starts at card issuance, not application. In categories with slow biometrics or card production, this can materially delay your eligibility window. 

How Citizenship Network can help

Citizenship Network advises residents, investors, and families on Portuguese residence and citizenship strategy. With the 2025 reform, our team can:

• Map your personal timeline under the new counting rule

• Evaluate PR vs. citizenship pathways and milestones

• Prepare for language and civic requirements once regulations publish

• Review whether your case qualifies for any protected status

• Coordinate with trusted Portuguese counsel for filings and appeals

For structured guidance tailored to your residence history and category, contact Citizenship Network. Our specialists can model realistic eligibility dates, documentation checklists, and next steps under the new 7/10-year framework.

Sources and references

• IAS (International Atlantic Services) legal briefing on the approved amendments and next steps (29 Oct 2025). 

• IMI (Investment Migration Insider) coverage and practitioner comment on the 2–3 year impact of counting from permit issuance. 

• Idealista news explainer on tighter timelines and the new “from issuance” counting rule (30 Oct 2025). 

• Global Citizen Solutions update noting EU/CPLP at 7 years and others at 10 (29–30 Oct 2025). 

• Reuters background on the government’s plan to double the requirement and set a 7-year CPLP track (June 2025). 

Citizenship Network will continue monitoring presidential and court steps so clients understand precisely when the new rules enter into force and how to navigate them efficiently under Portuguese law.